A court in Delhi recently sentenced a 50-year-old man to life imprisonment for raping his 10-year-old daughter soon after her mother’s death. The court of Special judge (POCSO), her Ladyship Ms. Anu Aggrawal, said, “sexual use and exploitation of children is the violation of human, social and legal rights of the child and if the predator is the own family member of the child, more particularly, the biological father of the child, then it’s nothing less than a betrayal of trust and impairment of the social values.” The judgment dated 27th April 2024, further said “such offences leave a long lasting emotional and psychological impact. It leaves an indelible scar on the mental health of the child, which is invisible and cannot be measured by any yardstick. This invisible scar haunts the child throughout his/her life….”
Child sexual abuse is a worldwide phenomenon
Child sexual abuse is a global issue, and India is no exception. Census data from 2011 shows India has 472 million children under eighteen, yet the true extent of abuse is often underestimated due to under-reporting. In India, child sexual abuse has reached epidemic levels, with a 2017 survey by World Vision India revealing that one in every two children is a victim. Perpetrators are often known to the victim, leading to reluctance in seeking help. The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated the issue, with a rise in cybercrime. Awareness of the POCSO Act remains low, as evidenced by the 53,874 cases registered in 2021.
Sr. Adv. Mary Scaria SCJM
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